2002-2003 Undergraduate Research Award Winner
Melinda
Hanes is a senior with a dual major in biology and chemistry. She
has conducted projects in the labs of Drs. Bruce Wittmershaus
(physics) and Mike Campbell (biology).
In her work in biology, Melinda conducted research involving the screening of the publicly available collections of mutants of the plant Arabidopsis. The goal was to isolate individuals that have aberrant amino acid profiles. The project incorporated a combination of techniques in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry.
This work has resulted in:
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The isolation of three mutants
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Reception of a $3,000 research fellowship from the American Society of Plant Biologists
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A presentation at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans
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A presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists in Hawaii
In her work in physics, Melinda worked on research related to the deposition of thin films of fluorescent dye-doped polymers on glass. This work is central to Dr. Wittmerhaus' work on luminescent solar concentrators. According to Dr. Wittmerhaus, Melinda's research qualities include her talent for understanding complex ideas and explanations quickly, and her experimental ability.
This work has resulted in:
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The development of a new technique for soaking the polymer plates in solvent with dye
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Coauthorship on one of Dr. Wittmershaus' research abstracts
As a result of her high academic achievement and her experience in undergraduate research, Melinda has been offered interviews from elite biophysics programs from across the United States.